2022-23 Engagement Opportunities

Welcome to our 2022-23 Virtual Fall Engagement Fair!  Each of our teams, groups, classes, etc. have a virtual booth set up here.  Please look through the listings and fill out the form(s) for whatever you would like more information about.

 

2022 Fall Engagement Catalog

 

Classes & Workshops

  • Faith Forward Adult Religious Exploration Classes – more information here
    • Inquirers Series – A series of 9 conversations that offer a general introduction to our congregation & Unitarian Universalism
    • Roots – A brief introduction to Unitarian Universalism ideas and history
    •  Beyond Inquirers – A 5 session series offering a deeper understanding of how the congregation works & how you can be a part of it
    • Spiritual Practice – A 12 session series that helps develop regular disciplines of the spirit-practices that help us connect with the sacred
    • UU History 101 – A 6 session introduction to concepts & people from our history
    • UU Elevator Speech – A 3 session course that guides participants through developing a short speech about our UU faith
    • UU Theology – A 6 session introduction to theological concepts through a UU lens
  • Living the Pledge – more information here
    • A 6 unit program developed by First UU Richmond members as they sought to transition from reading and talking about how to end racism to taking specific and deliberate actions
  • Pathways to Membership – more information here
    • If you would like to learn more about First UU, or are ready to become a member, then this is the class for you!
  • World Religions Course – register here
    • Join us as we study our World’s Religions

 

 

Discussions & Conversations

  • Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists – request information here
    • A relational group for people who have reject theistic aspects of religion or have questions
  • Book Bites – request information here
    • Group for avid readers. All participants read their own book and lead discussion.
  • Wednesday Women’s Book Group – request information here
    • A group of individuals who identify as a woman to read a book together each month
  • Young Adult Book Group – request information here
    • Monthly discussion of Young Adult (YA) and YA friendly books. Open to all ages.

 

 

Justice Action Ministry (JAM)

  • Anti-Racist Allies – request information here
    • The group’s first work is in a support capacity for First UU’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) network.  The group also looks at ways to dismantle racism structures at First UU, and continue individual anti-racist work.
  • BREAD – request information here
    • Building Responsibility, Equality, and Dignity, or BREAD, organizes congregational participation to alleviate serious injustice in Central Ohio.
  • Move to Amend – request information here
    • Local affiliate of the national movement dedicated to a government of, by and for the People – not corporations.

 

 

Music

  • Sacred Song Circle – request information here
    • A time-honored history of village singing will be given a modern and UU twist at this drop-in, a cappella, 30 minute sacred song circle.

 

 

Religious Exploration Programming

For more information on any of these programs, please email DRE Amber Scott (amber@firstuucolumbus.org)

  • Caregiver Peer Support Groups
    • Self selected opportunities to identify and connect with other parents/caregiver
  • Spirit Play (Ages 3-7 and 8-11)
    • A Montessori-based curriculum, begins in a circle to hear a story followed by individual work time that can include a range of expressive activities to explore what they are learning and to build connections with other children
  • Our Whole Lives (Ages 5-7)
    • Through age appropriate stories, activities and games, we cover: bodies and proper names for body parts, families and feelings, how to keep ourselves safe and consent, gender identity and how people are made.
  • Our Whole Lives (Ages 10-11)
    • In this class, we cover: the changes that bodies make going from child to adult, healthy relationships, how to keep ourselves safe, consent, and how to find accurate information
  • Neighboring Faiths (Ages 11-13)
    • Major world religions are introduced and discussed, then a field visit is taken to see what that worship looks like
  • Youth Group (Ages 12-19)
    • Uses a shared ministry approach to having fun while figuring out themselves and the world
  • Coming of Age (Ages 14-15)
    • This group closes in October. Youth will develop a basic expression of their faith and delve more deeply into what it means to be a UU
  • Small Group, Big Questions (Ages 15-19)
    • This group discusses Big Life Questions and members reflect on what they perceive the answers to be through thoughtful discussion
  • Our Whole Lives (Ages 15-19)
    • This class revisits previously covered topics of health, relationships, safety and sexuality in more detail and depth that reflects the participants maturity
  • Dinner with the Ministers for High School Seniors
    • Join our ministerial team in cooking a meal together and talking about joys and concerns
  • Inter-Generational Camping
    • Families and individuals go to a state park campground 3-6 times a year
  • Navigators USA – Inclusive Scouting
    • All gender scouting that welcomes all people

 

 

Small Groups

  • New Member Book Group – request more information here
    • Whether you are new to Unitarian Universalism, or just new to First UU, this new book group is for you!
  • Rainbow Connexions – request more information here
    • Group that creates intentional safe space to honor and affirm our queer identities, backgrounds, and experiences
  • Want to start a small group? Interested in being a part of a small group and don’t see one that interests you here?  Fill out this form with what small group you would like to be a part of.

 

 

Social Gatherings & Groups

  • Art at First UU
    • First UU hosts art events in the Gallery and Worship Center 6 times a year.  Come, check out the art any time the church is open
  • Care & Share Time Bank – request more information here
    • Purpose of this group is to build a caring community in which members offer other members a variety of services or skills that they enjoy doing in exchange for ‘hour credits,’ where one hour of work earns an ‘hour credit’ regardless of the task involved.
  • Central Ohio UU Walkers – request more information here
    • This group walks together to enjoy nature and the web of life through the changing seasons
  • Chalice Organics-Plus Buyers Club – request more information here
    • A natural foods buying club made up of individual members who pool their resources to order in bulk from United Natural Foods, Inc
  • Dinner and Conversations – request more information here
    • Participants are broken into groups of 8 and share dinner and have directed conversation. Groups meet three times each quarter.
  • Labor Day Retreat Planning Committee – request more information here
    • This committee plans, publicizes, takes registrations, and runs the Labor Day retreat each year

 

 

Spiritual Practice

  • Covenant of UU Pagans – request more information here
    • A new spiritual practices group.  CUUPs is an organization dedicated to networking Pagan-identified UUs, educating people about Paganism, promoting interfaith dialogue, and developing Pagan liturgies and theologies.
  • Want to start a Spiritual Practices Group? If you are interested in a Spiritual Practices group that isn’t currently active, please fill out this form.

 

 

Support & Pastoral

  • Pastoral Team – request more information here
    • This team expands the pastoral ministry of our congregation.  Volunteers, after going through training, provide pastoral listening on Sunday mornings, outreach to the congregation, and ongoing connections of support with fellow congregants.

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Coffee Team – request more information here
    • This team helps provide a memorable social experience for visitors, members, and friends each Sunday by serving fresh, hot, Fair Trade coffee and teas
  • Religious Exploration Opportunities – email DRE Amber Scott (amber@firstuucolumbus.org)
    • Want to help teach, provide office help, help on Sunday mornings, or a variety of other wonderful opportunities to work with our kiddos?  Fill out the form above